Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty (14) points to the sky following an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, in Waco, Texas. Baylor won 71-7. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Even though it has been a long summer without football, there has been plenty to talk about with the Big 12 Champion Baylor Bears. With a new stadium on the horizon and a Baylor team poised to take the next step into the spotlight at Baylor, all eyes are about to turn to the Palace on the Brazos.

Here are five of the biggest storylines of the Baylor offseason:

5. Robbie Rhodes is gone; next man up.

-Robbie Rhodes was set to be a key contributor for Baylor football heading forward, but he seemed to throw it away. The Fort Worth native was first arrested on May 2 for marijuana possession and was eventually dismissed from the university on June 23.

To many programs, losing a five-star wide receiver would be a crushing blow to an offense. Not Baylor. The Bears return All-America candidate Antwan Goodley, along with major contributors Levi Norwood and Corey Coleman. They will be fine.

4. Baylor leveraging success into recruiting.

-Last year’s senior class featured two four-star recruits: All-American safety Ahmad Dixon and little used athlete Darius Jones. In fact, the offense that broke multiple NCAA records and led the nation featured only two players that were rated over three stars: running back Lache Seastrunk and left tackle Spencer Drango, both of whom missed significant time with injuries.

We know what Art Briles can do when he is given solid talent, but to win a national championship, you need more than that, and Baylor’s recruiters have started to deliver.

For the recruiting classes of 2014 and 2015, Baylor already has a combined seven four-stars and their second five-star wide receiver in as many years. Crunch time for the recruiting class of 2015 will continue on into the fall, but Baylor seems to be well on track to take another step forward in the future.

3. Big holes yet to be filled on defense.

-Perhaps the biggest key to Baylor’s magical Big 12 run was the resurgence of Baylor’s defense. A year after giving up over 500 yards a game and finishing as the second to worst defense in college football, Baylor jumped up to 28th in the country in total defense and produced three All-Big 12 First Team defenders: All-American safety Ahmad Dixon, defensive end Chris McAllister All three of those performers graduated.

Baylor has a plethora of depth on the defensive line, and should not miss a beat there. However Baylor graduated two of the three linebackers who started last second, and four of the five biggest contributors at defensive back.

There is talent both at linebacker and defensive back, but it is all unproven. At this juncture, the only sure things at those two positions are returning starter Bryce Hager starting at middle linebacker and Orion Stewart stepping up to take Dixon’s job. It remains to be seen how Briles will shuffle the remaining players, and it will be key coming into fall camp.

2. Bryce Petty poised to take the Heisman jump.

-It seems inconceivable that Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty could be even better next season. Few quarterbacks in football, even in a 16-game NFL season, throw for 4,200 yards, score 46 all-purpose touchdowns and lead their team to a BCS bowl for the first time in school history, but Bryce knows he can be better.

Petty is coming into the season as one of the top three consensus candidates for Heisman, along with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and returning Florida State Heisman winner Jameis Winston. If Petty comes back with an improved game, there is no question he should be among the finalists in New York next December.

1. McLane Stadium set to open its doors.

We’re nearly here: just over a month until the “House that Griffin Built” opens on the banks of the Brazos River. All eyes have been on the development this summer, and the Waco Herald-Tribune gave us a comprehensive look at the new development after the media tour on July 2.

It was also reported that the new stadium will contain an old friend: Baylor is having a 10-foot statue of Baylor great Robert Griffin III built that will adorn the south endzone of McLane Stadium.

The effect of the stadium is already being felt. Fox Sports told us that Baylor is heavily marketing the stadium to recruits, and as mentioned above, the reception has been overwhelming. The excitement will continue to build until Aug. 31, when the stadium finally opens against SMU.

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